Cuthbert questions record-scrapping proposal

Barcelona 92' double silver medallist Juliet Cuthbert is imploring track and field's global authority, the IAAF to reject a proposal by the European athletics body, which calls for the removal of world records set prior to 2005.

Supporters of the move are hoping this would lift the sport from a string of doping scandals and increase credibility. However, there has been strong opposition to the proposal, which if implemented, would affect almost half of the 146 men's and women's indoor and outdoor records — many of which have never been subject to suspicion.

Cuthbert, who sprinted to silver medals in the 100m and 200m at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, took to Twitter to voice her disapproval of the proposals.

"If the IAAF wipes world record how will they deal with those without WR but are ranked on the world list. # pleaseexplain," Cuthbert enquired.

"There are many who are suspects ranked ahead of me. Do those time stay too? @iaaforg . #rethink," she added. "Are we then all under suspicion before 2005? @iaaforg"

If ratified, Merlene Ottey would lose her 24 year-old 200m indoor world record of 21.87 seconds.

Some of the other big names which could be affected by a move to reset the record books would be the likes of Hicham El Guerrouj, Michael Johnson and Florence Griffith-Joyner, with world records in seven of the eight men's field events as well as the women's 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m marks also set to be removed.

Under the proposal, athletes with world records prior to 2005 would have their names removed from the world record list on to an 'all-time list'. The IAAF will make a decision on the proposals in August.